Sheila Dikshit keeping fingers crossed for her toughest battle

New Delhi: Facing the toughest battle of her political career, three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said that she has kept her "fingers crossed" on the outcome of the election where ruling Congress, BJP and new entrant Aam Admi Party (AAP) are locked in a keen tussle.

"I will keep my fingers crossed," she said, refusing to show a victory sign when photographers at her residence requested for it.

When asked whether she was worried about AAP's possible impact, Dikshit said, "No".

Dikshit, (75), who led Congress to three consecutive electoral victories in Delhi, said her government ensured inclusive development in the last 15 years and hoped that people of the city will give the ruling party another opportunity to serve them.

"I am fighting the polls with confidence. We have ensured consistent development. We followed an agenda of inclusive development. We made Delhi the best city,” she said.

"The Opposition made tall claims and tried to defame us. But people of Delhi know about our performance. I think they will vote considering what will be good for them," she said before stepping out of her residence to vote.

The entry of Arvind Kejriwal's AAP has changed the dimension of the fight in the polls and it will be interesting to see whether the newbie will just be a "spoiler" or win some seats as predicted by opinion polls, riding on its anti-corruption plank.

The Chief Minister is also facing a stiff fight in her New Delhi constituency where Kejriwal and former Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta are her main opponents.

Dikshit has been representing the constituency for the last 15 years and her development model will face tough test in the area which comprises over 1.18 lakh voters, 60 percent of whom are government employees and their families.

A recent opinion poll had predicted that Kejriwal may humble Dikshit in the constituency but she strongly debunked the survey result, questioning its credibility.

Sonia Gandhi votes in Delhi Assembly election

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday cast her vote in the Delhi Assembly election in which her party is eyeing a fourth consecutive victory.

Gandhi was accompanied by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to the polling station in Nirman Bhavan at around 10 am.

She is a voter in the New Delhi constituency from where Dikshit is contesting.

The other two prominent contestants in the constituency are Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi BJP president Vijendra Gupta.

Kejriwal voted at polling booth no 47 at Hanuman Road at around 8:15 am. "People of Delhi will win and corruption will be defeated in the election," he told reporters.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev were among the first few to cast their votes.

The Chief Electoral Officer hoped that people will vote in large number to create a new record.

"I am confident that people of Delhi will create a new record of polling. There has been huge enthusiasm among the people about the election," he said.

Ansari reached New Delhi constituency's polling booth no 8586 at Nirman Bhavan at around 8:10 am while Dev exercised his franchise at 8 am at polling booth no 47 at Hanuman Road.

Dikshit has been representing the constituency for the last 15 years and her development model will face tough test in the area which comprises over 1.18 lakh voters, 60 percent of whom are government employees and their families.

A recent opinion poll had predicted that Kejriwal may humble Dikshit in the constituency but she strongly debunked the survey result, questioning its credibility.

Maneka Gandhi exercised her franchise at the booth a little after Sonia voted.